It comes as little surprise that New Orleans would decline the $5 million price tag to keep Ingram in place through 2015, but it's another reminder that the Saints are intent on revamping their backfield.

That's not a role Ingram will play; he's a hard-charging runner who caught just seven passes last season. He was dominant in a 14-carry, 145-yard romp over the Cowboys in Week 10 and showed well in the playoffs, but Ingram was pedestrian in the second half of the regular season, held to 32 yards or less in six of his final seven outings.

According to Jeff Duncan of The Times-Picayune, the Saints are giving hints of transforming their offense from a wide-open passing attack to a ball-control scheme that will make the most of all these weapons on the ground. Ingram is under plenty of pressure to prove he's still part of the long-term plan.